JazzBands

December 12: Iron Post-All 3 Jazz Bands (6pm start time)
January 8: Jazz Ensemble Rehearsal (TBA)
January 11: Jazz Ensemble Recording at the U of I (TBA)
January 19: Iron Post- Jazz Ensemble, Beloit, Oak Park (5pm Start time)
January 20: Purdue Jazz Festival- All Jazz Bands and Combos (7AM -9PM)
February 3: Trivia Night- Combos (TBA)
February 10: Eastern Jazz Festival- All Jazz Bands and Combos (TBA)
February 17: Indiana State Jazz Festival- Stage Band, Jazz Ensemble, Combos (TBA)
February 20: Bradley Jazz Festival- Lab Band (TBA)
February 23: Swing Dance- All Jazz Bands (TBA)
March 9-11: Monterrey Jazz Festival- Jazz Ensemble (if accepted)
April 13-14: Central Jazz Festival- Everyone (TBA)
May 10-12: Essentially Ellington- Jazz Ensemble (if accepted)

Communities cheer when a hometown team reaches the Sweet 16. This spring, Champaign-Urbana has reason to celebrate a musical triumph for a hometown band. Champaign Central Jazz Ensemble has been accepted to a prestigious jazz competition, arguably the high school band equivalent of the Sweet 16.

Central Jazz Ensemble, led by John Currey, is one of fifteen bands chosen—from across the nation—to perform in the 22^nd Annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival, held at New York City’s Lincoln Center, May 11-13, 2017.

The Essentially Ellington Competition and Festival has been described as one of the most innovative jazz education events in the world. Selected high school bands travel to New York for three days of workshops, jam sessions, rehearsals, and judged performances. The event culminates with an awards ceremony and concert featuring the top three bands from the festival’s competition, as well as a performance by the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.

Travel and hotel costs will be considerable. On Saturday, April 8, Central Jazz Ensemble members will go door-to-door in Champaign neighborhoods to solicit monetary support for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Band members are prepared to play a selection upon request.

All donations to Central Music Boosters are tax deductible and will help defray the costs of participating in the Essentially Ellington festival. For details about the fundraiser, call Central High School and inquire about the Door-to-Door Jazz Fundraiser at (217) 351-3911.

The Champaign Central (IL) High School Jazz Ensemble has been accepted to two prestigious jazz festival competitions this spring and we need your help to get there!  Led by Mr. John Currey, Jazz Ensemble was selected from hundreds of high school jazz bands across the country to participate in these events.

Swing Central Jazz (Savannah GA) “is a three-day workshop and competition with a collective approach to big band jazz instruction.

Essentially Ellington (New York City)  The annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival is one of the most innovative jazz education events in the world.

To find out more, or to make a donation,  visit our GoFundMe page!

Eastern Illinois University Jazz Festival – February 11, 2017

There are two buses for this trip which have different departure times:
Bus 1 students arrive at 7:15 a.m.
Bus 2 students arrive at 10:15 a.m.

Both buses will return to Central HS at approximately 7:45 p.m.